Toy return hoop



March 14, 1961 1 A. G. zuBE 2,974,956

Toy RETURN HoolD Filed Jan. 2, 1959 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY- United States Patent O 2,974,956 YTor RETURN Hoor Alfred G.Zuber, 1309 Hollyrood Road, Sandusky, Ohio Filed Jan. z, 1959, ser. No.784,574

z Claims. (cl. 27s- 129) This invention relates to a toy in which -asimple launching arrangement is made for a hoop to be projected from thedevice and rotated in such a direction as to return to substantially theinitial position.

The object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, easilyoperable toy of this type, which is of sufficient rugged construction asto be readily usable and is foolproof in its operation, by reason of theconstruction and the arrangement of the parts.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention,such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the relatedelements of the structure, to various details of construction and tocombination-s of parts, elements, per se, and to economies ofmanufacture and numerous other features, as will be apparent from aconsideration of the speciiication and drawing of a form of theinvention, which may be preferred, in which:

Figure I is a perspective elevation of the toy in a position fordischarging the hoop;

Figure II is a prespective elevation showing the hoop in position forcocking the same;

Figure III is a section taken on the line III-III of Figure I;

Figure IV is an alternate form of the launching pad shown in Figure III;

Figure V is an elevation illustrating the action of the device in use;and

Figure VI shows an alternate construction of the groove in the launchingpad.

Referring to the drawings, is a iiat launching pad which may beconstructed of wood, plastic, or other suitable material adapted to beplaced on the floor or other llat surface. This base 10 has alongtudinally extending groove 12 therein opening out at one edge 13 ofthe base 10 as shown. The transverse conguration of this groove 12 maybe rectangular (see Figure III) or the side walls may Hare outwardly asdesired, as shown in Figure IV. In Figure VI an alternate method offorming the groove 12 is shown, in which the groove slopes upward as at12A to meet the upper surface of the base 10. A suitable flexible orstretchable member such as a rubber band 15 is attached or positioned asat 16 to the base 10. For example, the rubber band 15 may be acontinuous band and by providing kerfs or saw cuts or recesses 17 for ashort distance from either side of the base 10 as shown, the rubber band15 may be slid into these slots 17 and the bottom portion of the band asat 16 presses against the bottom surface of the base 10 and holds theband 16 to the pad 10.

A suitable free hoop 19 of wood, plastic, or other material separatefrom the base 10 is provided, the diameter of the hoop 17 and the lengthof the rubber band 15 being proportioned having the markings thereon, aswill hereinafter appear, to provide an arrangement so that said band 15acts both as a retaining and cooking means for the hoop as well aspropulsion means therefor, the hoop 2,974,956 Patented Mar. 14, 19,61

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19 being also proportioned to properly fit within th groove 12 as showntorbe guided thereby. v, To properly locate the hoop 19 on the launchingpad or base 10, I provide one mark 20 on the base at the properposition, spaced rearwardly from the anchoring means forthe rubber band15, the mark 20 bein-g adjacent the edge of the slot or groove 12. Onthe hoop 19,*1 provide a cooperating mark 22 on the inside surface ofthe hoop, so as to indicate to the user where the hoop with theindicator or mark 20 thereon should be placed on the base. On theoutside of the hoop19 I also provide a pair of spaced marks 23 and 24 toform an indication for properly locating the rubber band 15 on theoutside ofthe hoop 19 when positioning the hoop initially on the base10. I have found that in practice, as shown in Figure 1I, the acuteangle between the rubber band and the vertical to the at longitudinalsurface of the base v10, when the line 20 on the hoop 19 is opposite themark 20 (for positioning the rubber band on hoop), should besubstantially thirty degrees, as shown in Figure II, so that uponinitial releasing of the hoop and the band 15, a horizontal force causesthe hoop to move forward slightly and assume a different position sothat a new angle of about eight degrees, as shown in Figure I, is set upbetween the band 15 and the vertical to the base 10, in which positionthe hoop is cocked and ready to be launched. However in the meantime thehoop is at this time being retained in the position of Figure I by thefact that the pull of the band vertically is now overcome, the forcetending to move the hoop horizontally and rotate the hoop rearwardly.

I have also provided an arrow 25 on the outside of the hoo-p 19 adjacentthe pair of marks 23 and 24 to show how an operator shall actuate thetoy, the arrow directed rearwardly.

The operation of the device is as follows: Place the hoop 19 in thegroove 12 on the base of the launcher 10 with the arrow 25 on the hoopfacing the rear, and

mark 22 on the inside of the hoop in line with mark 20- -on the launcher10 as shown in Figure II. Place the right hand thumb or index inger onthe hoop 19 at the point where the marks 23 and 24 appear, as shown inFigure II. With the left hand stretch the rubber band 15 on the hoopbetween the double marks 23 and 24 and then release the right hand thumbor index finger slowly and the hoop will move intoits launchingposition, shown in Figure I, where it will remain until released. Torelease, place the linger on the rubber band at points 23 and 24 on thehoop, press lightly and draw the finger back and down in the directionof arrow 25. The hoop will spin across the floor and return to thelaunching ramp as indicated in Figure V.

It is apparent that within the scope of the invention, modiications anddifferent arrangements may be made other than herein disclosed, and thepresent disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehendingall variations thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A device for projecting a hoop with a reverse rotation to cause itsreturn comprising a launching pad having relatively smooth top andbottom surfaces, said pad having a groove formed in a portion of the topsurface and extending inwardly from one end thereof along thelongitudinal axis of the pad, the bottom portion-of said groove beingdisposed below and in spaced parallel relation to said top surface, saidpad having a kerf provided on each side thereof adjacent the end havingthe groove therein with said kerfs being in .aligned relation with oneanother, an elastic band secured in said kerfs and encircling said pad,a hoop having a smooth outer surface positioned in said groove, saidhoop being of substantially the same width as said groove, said elastichand being stretched to engage the upper surface of said hoop when s'aidhoop is positioned in the inner end portion of said groove, said elasticband being under tension when stretched to engage the upper portion ofsaid hoop and moving said hoop in said grooveto a position adjacent theend of said pad to retain said hoop in launching position whereby saidhoop is launched from said groove when said elastic band and the portionof the hoop engaged thereby are moved towards the inner end portion ofsaid groove to cause said hoop to spin in a direction reverse to itsdirection of movement and return to its point of launching.

2. A device of the type as called for in claim 1 wherein said hoop isprovided with marks on the outer surface for properly positioning theelastic band therebetween and a mark on the inner surface thereof tocoincide with a mark on said pad adjacent the inner end portion of thegroove, and said elastic band being disposed at an angle ofsubstantially 60 with said top surface upon the initial emplacement ofthe elastic band upon said hoop and at an angle of substantially 82 withsaid top surface when said hoop is in its launching position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,163,609 Bartholomew Dec. 7, 1915 1,243,334 Murry Oct. 16, 19171,270,378 Cobarubia June 25, 1918 2,603,204 Hartman July 15, 1952

